A hidden Markov model for an inventory system with perishable items

Abstract

This paper deals with a parametric multi-period integer-valued inventory model for perishable items. Each item in the stock perishes in a given period of time with some probability. Demands are assumed to be random and the probability that an item perishes is not known with certainty. Expressions for various parameter estimates of the model are established and the problem of finding an optimal replenishment schedule is formulated as an optimal stochastic control problem. ©1997 by North Atlantic Science Publishing Company.